The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-02-25

them. want 10 rcihiuu my youhS hNn"S
that we are seeing the last days of a people
whose work will never be duplicated in
Americas history, for the future settler OF
the West need never know the privations
of the early Michigan farmers. The miner
will hardly have stakcd his claim on the
side of Colorado mountain ere telephone
communication and daily mail are extend.
ed to him; and the Dakota settler! Little
he knows of clearing new land or plowing
among stumps. He comes from the crowd
ed countries over the water, looking for
room to rest his travel worn feet, and our
Government gives it to him-eighty acres
of cleared land for each foot. 1t hardly
requires ahfetime for him 10 get that farm
into working order, and as TO priyations,
the very latest improvements in farming
machinery are right at his very door al
most as soon as hc is.
Now this is not to assert that Dakota
settlers life is all roses, but in point of
clearing new land, it is. in comparison
with that of a Michigan settler, at least,
the one to be preferred.
In regard to discharging this debt, this
| moral obligation under which we are, l
| want to mention only two methods; ono is
to take more care in recording our pioneer
histories; the other, to evince more interest
in those with whom we are personally
connected. AS to the first, we have II
grand opportunity of learning history
from the lips of those who made it. and
how shall future historians Justly compute
the value of their work unless we thus
assist them? The deeds of warriors are
not forgotten because they are duly chron
icled and preserved in the records Of war.
Soldiers of war march to the front, fred with
ambition, urged on by enthusiasm, sure to
gain death or glory, or perhaps both; but
the soldiers of emigration were under 10
such inspiring influences. They waged a
war with poverty ana wild beasts, fever
and ague and homesickness. The stakes
were home and a heritage, and, though
they did not always win. they fought bat.
ties as worthy of remembrance as any ever
fought under flag
am aware that history of Shiawassee
county has been published, but in that
high priced volume appear the names of
only those pioneers who were able to pur-
chase the privilege. One of our pioneers
has been, during the last five or six years,
compiling history of our county
which when completed, will be of great
value. This work is progressing satisfac-
torily, but it is an individual enterprise
and is not sure to be published soon, or in
fact, ever. Its writer is not young; he is
in fact approaching the end of mans al
lotted days, and why should not some
person or some society be authorized to
ensure its publication when finished. But
that work will mention only people who
were connected with important events,
and this brings us to the last point to be
considered, the desirability of preserving
histories of those who fell short OF being
Boones or Crocketts. They are not SO
many that we cannot afford to do this.
Their ranks have grown perceptibly thin
in the lrst half dozen years.
Not longer than two years ago, one of
our county newspapers published request
for short sketches of pioneers lives and
OF interesting events in the early history
of the county. do not recollect that any
response was ever made 10 that call. Now,
why should not such sketches be made by
those who may be interested in the work?
They may not be literary efforts worthy of
publication but facts will thereby be pre-.
served which may some day he of value.
The tired old hands which have grown
more used to the plow than the pen will new
er accomplish this task for themselves and
why should not some younger hand per-
form the office for them. Oh, we ought
to take more interest in this work. We
find time for everything else. We take
plenty Of interest in the men who sit in
Washington making our country's laws
land quarreling with Great Britain about
where we shall dig bai), but we have no
time to remember the men who worked |
in Michigan forests. making our country's |
wealth. 1t remains with us to decide |
whether they shall be remembered or for.
gotten. Shall we bring reproach upon
eur generation by relegating these old
heroes, our bcnefactors, to oblivion? "If
DER their tomb no trophies ralsc,"
later generations will rightly impute the
fault to us. We are submitting these bat
tie worn veterans to last cruel test and
they are bearing it with what has been so
aptly called 'the heroism Of never being
heard Of"
We affect to dcspise the 'boast of her
aldry but 'twere well If our democratic
principles do not carry us to the extent of
ignoring the achievements of
our ancestors. There is nothing snobbish
in remembering with pride any act Of an
which may reflect credit upon his
name.